SAINT-HYACINTHE | indicted in five counts of arson, the fire André Beaudry was able to resume his freedom Tuesday on hiring a third party to pay a deposit of $ 5,000.

Richelieu resident will return to court on February 18 for the orientation of its cause.

Represented by Charles-André Ashton Beaudry pleaded not guilty at his first appearance on October 31, the day after he was arrested at his home by police Richelieu of the police board Richelieu Saint-Laurent. He was incarcerated until the holding of its investigation on bail Tuesday.

30 years old, André Beaudry is employed by the Fire Department of Richelieu since 2005, but was suspended from his duties until the legal proceedings taken against him for acts committed between 2009 and 2012.

Beaudry, who had the status of part-time firefighter, received a salary of $ 16 an hour when he was called to appear on the site of a fire.

26 fire

In total, Beaudry is suspected of deliberately lit fires 26. "Lack of evidence, he was charged for only three fires," stated the "Journal de Montreal" Gilles Villemaire, captain of the police board Richelieu-Saint-Laurent.

"The majority of fires were started in abandoned buildings or barns," he added. The police were trying to identify the author of these fires for three years. "Let there be many fires in the area, we had a doubt. Yarn needle, found the suspect, "stated Captain Villemaire, while refraining from revealing investigative techniques.

According to the "Journal de Montreal", it would be through scientific analyzes made ​​from elements found on some scenes of crimes that the police have been able to identify the suspect.

The same newspaper stated André Beaudry was also arrested last June for operating a vehicle while he was prohibited from doing so.